The winter event in Quebec City is without a doubt the Carnival! For over 70 years, Quebecers have been meeting in the Old Capital to participate in various activities and celebrate winter. After visiting the works of art on ice and snow or the Palais de Bonhomme, you will of course want a good hot meal in one of the restaurants near the Quebec Winter Carnival and we have a list of suggestions for you.

There are different ways to enjoy our geographical location and the associated northern temperature, and the best way is to really put on several layers of warm clothing, get outside and take part in the festivities of the Quebec Winter Carnival.

The first edition of the Carnival took place in 1894, with the goal of making the population forget the harsh winter weather. The Carnival has been held every year without interruption since 1954.

During the ten days of the event, which always takes place from the end of January to mid-February, the organizers have prepared two night parades that are meant to be totally magical, have set up ice and snow sculpture competitions that attract the best artists in the world, have integrated a laser game into the Citadelle of Quebec, have invited singers to perform on the stages and hold a canoe race on the ice of the St. Lawrence.

They also invite you to discover the Palais de Bonhomme, the castle of the famous mascot made entirely of ice.

This event is definitely the biggest winter carnival in the world! And to stay in the traditions, don't forget your arrowhead belt or to wear red, to learn the Carnival songs by heart and to take a few sips of caribou...

But in the meantime, we will help you plan your visit, at least in part, by suggesting some restaurants where it is possible to eat near the Carnival site.

Buvette Scott

We suggest you first stop for a drink and a bite at Buvette Scott. The restaurant is located in the Saint-Jean-Baptiste district, a few steps from the Carnival activities.

La Buvette Scott offers you excellent reasons to drink, as you can see from the wine list, whether it’s with bubbles, whites, reds, rosés, macerated wines or magnums. There are also several options for beers, with bottles coming from Quebec, Ontario, the United States, France and Belgium.

On the food side, you can taste oysters (with homemade vinegar and horseradish), marinated vegetables, olives, duck ham, razor clams (with zucchini, garlic flowers and dill), pâté en croûte (with Dijon, pickles and wasabi) or even the Gaspésie halibut plate (with fennel, beans, zucchini and whipped butter).

A reservation is recommended. If you visit in the summer, know that there is also a terrace!

Restaurant Momento

Also located near the Carnival festivities, but also the Salle Albert-Rousseau which always presents good shows, the Momento restaurant will make you discover the authentic cuisine of Italy with impeccable service and a friendly atmosphere.

Italian flavors are everywhere in the pasta, grill and pizza dishes.

Think of a salmon mousseline or salmon tartare, veal escalope with buttered pasta and vegetables, giant duck confit ravioli or goat cheese pizza.

And at Momento, the weather is always nice! From the dining room, equipped with large windows, you always have a view of the mountains.

Battuto Restaurant

The Battuto restaurant, also inspired by Italian traditions, allows you to see their chef and his team at work thanks to their open kitchen. A very interesting spectacle for the eyes before making our taste buds enjoy it.

Moreover, here, everything is simple and of high quality. The chef draws inspiration from local and seasonal products to build his menu.

For example, it is possible to taste a char carpaccio (bisque, raspberry, kohlrabi, fava beans and basil), scallops (grilled cucumbers, horseradish sauce, almonds and mint), a beef tartare (with marinated chanterelles) or pasta such as tortellini (ricotta, arugula pesto, fava beans and lemon sauce).

For dessert, what will you choose between the tiramisu for two, the frozen choux (with raspberry sorbet, white chocolate and custard), the cheesecake (with yogurt and mascarpone, strawberry sorbet and graham), the blueberry sorbet and chocolate shortbread or the revello (with salted caramel and dark chocolate)?

To discover it, you absolutely must reserve your place online!

Resto Pub Délice

Here is a much more family-friendly choice than the first, because, let's not forget, Carnival is above all a celebration for young and old.

So, the Resto Pub Délice allows you to have breakfast, lunch or dinner in a warm atmosphere. Moreover, several promotions are in effect almost every day of the week. It is also possible to order take-out meals and homemade pâtés are also for sale.

On the evening menu, mozzarella sticks, garlic bread, parmesan fondues, chicken wings or smoked salmon are available as starters.

For the meal, there are grilled meats (filet mignon, filet mignon or chicken skewers), chicken and ribs, burgers and other sandwiches, poutines and pizzas.

Truly, the whole family will be able to find a good meal to sink their teeth into!

Tora-Ya Ramen - Japanese Restaurant

Let's now head to the St-Roch district, in what is also the Lower Town, to discover Tora-Ya Ramen, a Japanese restaurant specializing in ramen.

Before choosing your meal, you can select a drink, whether it be sake, wine or beer. There are also non-alcoholic options.

Afterwards, you can enjoy a delicious ramen that will be served in a homemade chicken and pork broth. There are also Tsumami, the Japanese equivalent of tapas.

Among others, the Shôyu (scallion, bean sprouts, pork chashû, egg and bamboo shoots), the Ômori Miso (scallion, bean sprouts, pork chashû, stir-fried vegetables, egg and corn) or the vegetarian option (scallion, bean sprouts, tofu, stir-fried vegetables, bamboo shoots, corn and kikurage mushroom on a choice of regular or kale noodles).

Quail eggs simmered in dashi sauce, octopus-stuffed fritters, the fried rice bowl with pork, egg and vegetables or the Japanese-style fried chicken basket served with spicy mayo are examples of the tsumami choices.

Bonus: Corsaire – Pirate Microbrasserie and Pub La Traversée

Finally, if you have the opportunity to go to the other side of the River, in Lévis, we invite you to the Corsaire microbrewery, which is home to the Pub La Traversée.

Here, you can enjoy a good British-style house beer and taste dishes worthy of English pubs, with Fish and chips as the star dish or their poutine.

Of course, in a festive atmosphere. Nothing better to continue the day started a few hours earlier at the Quebec Winter Carnival!